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Libyan Rebels in Retreat; Killer Whale Back at SeaWorld; Protests Erupt in Syria After President Assad's Speech; Workers Continue Attempts to Contain Nuclear Disaster in Japan; Contaminated IV Bags Infect 19 Patients in Alabama Hospital; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates Brief Congressional Leaders on Libya

Aired March 30, 2011 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you, everyone. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Want to begin with Libya. Libya's outgunned rebels are now retreating today. So what do we do for them now? That's really the main question being asked in Washington, London and throughout NATO today.

First, we have received -- we just received some new video from the war. I'm going to show you some of the video. It was shot just today in Misrata. Let's watch this together. Sounds like nonstop gunfire there in the city of Misrata. Now, again, that was shot in Misrata.

I want to hold the thought here as we reset the scene, because momentum in the war has swung in a hurry toward Moammar Gadhafi. I want to take a look at Libya and let's look at the map. First, you see one city. This is Tripoli. This is the capital way out there in the west.

Now, the rebels are based in Benghazi. This has been a rebel stronghold, second most populated city in Libya, hundreds of miles to the east. Now, this curious civil war is essentially being waged along this road there that hugs the Mediterranean coast. Now, here are some of the cities in between. And you see several different cities right there. You're familiar with some of these by now.

Now, over this past weekend, the rebels took advantage of NATO air cover, and they stormed into the city of Ajdabiya. They then overran the oil centers in Al Brega and Ras Lanuf, chasing forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, chasing them to the west.

But now here's where things have suddenly turned around. It appears that Gadhafi got reinforcements in, and they met the rebels just west of Ras Lanuf, and the rebels went into retreat. Now, reports this afternoon have the rebels being pushed all the way back past Al Brega, and now just a short time ago, we got note from Libya, from CNN's Reza Sayah, who says a rebel spokesman told him the rebels had staged -- and I'm quoting -- "a tactical withdrawal."

He also said the anti-Gadhafi forces and the tanks, they need heavy artillery, communications, logistics, equipment.

So all of that said, painting the picture for us now, I want to go straight to Tripoli to CNN's Nic Robertson.

And, Nic, do accurate reports from the battlefield reach the people there, the Libyans there in the capital city of Tripoli, and does it at all affect morale there?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it does.

Earlier in the week, when the rebels were on the advance, there was nothing on state television, but there would have been plenty on -- satellite international satellite channels like ours, and plenty of people here watch CNN and other stations, because they can't trust state television.

And you could tell out on the streets here the sort of atmosphere was quite muted. There wasn't the sort of relaxed atmosphere we have seen here over the past couple of weeks. Then, since the rebels have sort of been pushed back, this tactical withdrawal, and then we're seeing the government forces move further eastwards again, passing Brega now, it would seem, the atmosphere has picked up somewhat and state television actually has mentioned some of the gains that the government is having. And we have even heard what sounds like some celebratory gunfire earlier this evening because -- coming from around Moammar Gadhafi's palace area.

So it seems that definitely it does affect morale on the streets here, but it does not sort of affect the strategic battle for the country, really -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Now, Nic, help me understand this, because we're also hearing reports today of possible supply shortages there in Tripoli. Tell me, are we talking fuel? Are we talking food, perhaps both? And why is that happening?

ROBERTSON: Fuel supplies, for sure. We have seen plenty of gas stations here and in the towns along the coast from here where you have lines, anything from half-a-mile to maybe two miles long, cars waiting for gas, gas stations closed with no fuel for sale.

The reason, we're told, is because -- government officials say is because the embargo is taking an impact here, that the ports here used to get four to seven big ships a week coming in. Now it's getting none because their ships are being turned around if they're trying to come, or some them are just not coming at all.

So, we are seeing definitely fuel shortages, it appears, and we are seeing, in the stores, commodities like -- like dairy products, like children's diapers. Those kinds of things now appear to be in short supply in some stores, because people are getting worried. They're hearing about the potential for shortages.

And, of course, we all know that leads to panic buying and people are buying up things they think will disappear. So it's -- perhaps there are some shortages, but perhaps it's not at a critical stage yet in terms of food.

But think about it this way. As I was thinking when we were driving through all these little towns and villages, all these farmers with their little trucks that they take to market with their supplies, they were all lined up at the gas station. Where will they be tomorrow and the day after when they should be taking goods to market? They won't be able to get to market because they don't have fuel.

So you can see how this ripple effect, even if it's only fuel shortages, will affect the general population in a bigger way, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Right. Let me just follow up on that, because that's how it could affect the general population, but what about Gadhafi, what about Gadhafi's militia? What if down the road there is no more fuel? Would that be a huge, huge problem for Gadhafi?

ROBERTSON: It certainly would be. I mean, his army would be immobilized. But I think we can be reasonably sure that he would be quite happy to see the civilians here go without gas and he would keep plenty in reserve for the military.

It's not without the bounds of possibility that the reason the civilians are seeing a fuel shortage now is because the government is stockpiling so that the military can have it first. So I would suspect he would make sure the army gets it first and civilians suffer as a consequence -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Of course. Nic Robertson live in Tripoli, Nic, my thanks to you.

And so clearly the rebels there need help. And we have been doing the no-fly zone for a while now, but now they're saying they need more. They need tanks, they need heavy artillery, communications equipment.

For more on that, let's go to the White House and our correspondent there, Dan Lothian.

And, Dan, we heard the president a couple of different sound bites, we sort of heard him saying the same thing with regard to arming these rebels. He's not ruling it in. He's not ruling it out.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

BALDWIN: But does anyone think that the rebels, given their current situation, could they topple Moammar Gadhafi as is?

LOTHIAN: Well, listen, first of all, as you were just talking about this issue with Nic, the advantage of the opposition, those rebel forces, seems to change from day to day.

What is clear is that when you look back to phase one of the mission there in Libya is that those forces did need the assistance of the U.S. and coalition forces in order to push back the advances of the Libyan government troops, in particular when they were making the major advancement on Benghazi, which officials here said would have cost the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians.

Will they need to be armed now in order to push Gadhafi out? Well, the president yesterday in one of those sit-down interviews again saying they're not ruling anything out or ruling anything in, but he said that question is being assessed. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the questions that we want to answer is, do we start getting to a stage where Gadhafi's forces are sufficiently degraded where it may not be necessary to arm opposition groups? But we're not taking anything off the table at this point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Now, aides here at the White House seem to feel that there is progress being made there because of the pressure that's being applied in this phase two of the operation there, which is now being led by NATO -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Well, because of the pressure being, we know time is of the essence. So how long would they have to make this decision as to whether or not they want to arm the rebels? And might a worry be, if they wait too long, Gadhafi could win the whole thing?

LOTHIAN: Well, certainly, that would be one of the considerations. Timeline, officials here not giving a timeline at all. But one thing we do know is that they continue to work with those rebel forces, the ones that the administration says have been vetted.

They continue to work with them with non-military, non-lethal assistance to them, but, certainly, again, assessing the situation because there is concern there about these rebel forces, whether or not they will be able to stand up to the Libyan government, which at this point is not backing down.

BALDWIN: One of the big questions here.

Dan Lothian at the White House, thank you.

And today is really key here when we talk about Libya because this is the day NATO officially takes the reins of the Libya operation. But did you know the man in charge of NATO is an American? We're going to go through the who's-who of who's making the calls now.

And then a killer whale back to work at SeaWorld a little over a year after killing an experienced trainer. Have you heard why they want him back in the spotlight, though? Stick around and see if you think it's a good idea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I want to keep talking about Libya because there's another big angle to the story today, that being the fact that NATO has now adopted formal command of the allied military operation. So, up to now, it's been commanded by essentially an improvised combination. You have the U.S., Britain, France.

Joining me now from the Pentagon is CNN's Chris Lawrence.

And, Chris, with regard to NATO officially taking the reins, does anything tangible change going forward?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, not until they figure out, Brooke, exactly who's going to take on some of these most sensitive missions. And by that, I mean bombing Gadhafi tanks, going after some of the troops on the ground. Right now that's still under U.S. control until NATO comes up with some sort of framework that's agreeable to all the participants in order to establish some rules of engagement.

BALDWIN: Who is the new -- just to help us put this in perspective, who is the new Wesley Clark, as it were, of this now current NATO operation?

LAWRENCE: Yes, good question. As Americans, we always want the one guy in charge, the Norman Schwarzkopf of the first Gulf War, the Tommy Franks of the second.

BALDWIN: Right.

LAWRENCE: Wes Clark sort of ran the equivalent of what's going on here in Kosovo.

But there might not be a Wes Clark for this particular conflict. And here's why.

Admiral James Stavridis, who is the supreme allied commander right now of NATO, he would fit that role, the same position General Clark had, but the actual control of the operation has been assigned to a General Charles Bouchard. He's a Canadian general.

But he's only controlling the no-fly zone, the patrols. The actual naval blockade is being handled by an Italian admirable. And as I said before, until they figure out the particulars, the most sensitive missions, like bombing Gadhafi's forces, that's still being controlled by the U.S.

BALDWIN: OK. So, so far, there is not one specific guy over the whole thing. I don't know why we look for that. You're right, Chris Lawrence.

LAWRENCE: Not in the sense that we're used to seeing, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Right. Right.

LAWRENCE: Yes.

BALDWIN: Thanks for making that clear. Chris, thank you.

And staying on Libya here, make sure you tune in, as I will be, tomorrow night, "AC 360." Anderson is sitting down for this prime- time exclusive, those four "New York Times" journalists, remember, the ones who were captured and then finally released by the Gadhafi regime after they had been kidnapped. They will share their story with Anderson. That is tomorrow night, 10:00 p.m. Eastern time.

And now I want you to take a look at this with me. The beautiful green grass there should not be that close to the homes. Why? This is a landslide.

And after weeks of watching the dramatic nuclear crisis in Japan, our president spoke up today about U.S. energy. Is he changing his tune at all about whether we should rely on nuclear power? Jessica Yellin has that for us, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. Check out this picture. This is a landslide. This is Hercules, California. The hill-slide has been slowly creeping on those houses for years, but all the recent rainfall sped things up considerably.

So now these homes there you see very much so encroached upon by the grass, they have been evacuated. And with people out of the way of danger, the structures are now being used as retaining walls to prevent the rain-soaked hillside from crashing into the street below. Yikes.

President Obama gave a major speech on energy today. And given the current nuclear crisis unfolding in Japan, a lot of people wondering whether he would actually mention nuclear power. The answer? He did.

Jessica Yellin, national political correspondent, a lot of people wondering here, is the president still behind nuclear energy?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: He is.

Brooke, he made it clear that he wants to keep our existing plants working, but his administration is also backing the construction of new plants, which is the main thing here, and with a renewed attention to safety. This was how the president put it earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now, America gets about one-fifth of our electricity from nuclear energy. And it's important to recognize that nuclear energy doesn't emit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So those of us who are concerned about climate change, we've got to recognize that nuclear power, if it's safe, can make a significant contribution to the climate change question.

And I'm determined to ensure that it's safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP) YELLIN: So the administration, Brooke, is offering energy companies what are called loan guarantees. They help finance the development of new reactors.

In his budget proposal for next year, he sets aside $36 billion for this. But you have to keep in mind that, of course, there are new hurdles. I have spoken with industry insiders who say that, because of Japan, they expect new regulations, which will add to the cost of new plants and could make it all too expensive.

And there's public opinion. A majority of Americans oppose building new plants, which means permitting is going to be harder. Bottom line, it's slowing down the construction of any new plants, but the industry is lobbying hard.

BALDWIN: OK. So you have what's happening, this nuclear crisis in Japan, right? I have a list here. You have that. You have the oil spill in the Gulf. You have rising gas prices, and we still seem, Jessica, pretty stuck with the same primary energy sources.

YELLIN: Right.

BALDWIN: Is that going to change? Is the government making any progress up there?

YELLIN: You mean, are we going to fix it?

BALDWIN: Are we going to fix it?

YELLIN: Yes, well, there's a big political fight over that.

We see the president all the time pushing to invest in alternative energy. But his Republican critics on the other side are pushing for him to allow for more drilling for traditional energy, oil. And at this moment, when the public wants Washington to cut spending, the appetite for investing in new energy not so big.

Today, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accused the White House of cooking up -- quote -- "fake solutions" that distract people.

And, Brooke, there's this. I think you will like this. The American people aren't actually helping that much either because a poll done by a bipartisan group that backs infrastructure investment found --

BALDWIN: Uh-oh. What?

YELLIN: -- found that 60 percent of Americans, 60, think that the federal gas tax goes up every year. That's what could be used to fund investment in new energy. The truth is, the last time the gas tax went up was in 1993.

BALDWIN: Wow. That was a little bit of a while ago there.

YELLIN: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Yikes. And this may not amount to much of a hill of beans, but tell me about House Speaker John Boehner and the light bulbs up there.

YELLIN: Oh. OK, it's about light bulbs, it's about utensils. This a little silly. But when Pelosi was speaker of the House, she had the Capitol Hill cafeterias move over to the eco-friendly biodegradable utensils.

BALDWIN: Uh-huh.

YELLIN: But the new leadership found that was -- quote -- "neither cost-effective, nor energy-efficient," and replaced it with plastic. And now they are working on overturning legislation Nancy Pelosi passed that made light bulbs more energy-efficient, because the energy-efficient light bulbs are more expensive.

So, they're having this back and forth over light bulbs and plastic and --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Over spoons and forks and knives in the cafeteria.

YELLIN: Just what we like them to do.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Of course. Of course. Jessica Yellin, that's kind of funny. Thank you so much.

Speaking of that oil spill, BP executives could face manslaughter charges for last year's oil spill. The president of the company that owns the Fukushima nuclear plant is in the hospital. And George Clooney could be called upon to testify in the trial of Italy's prime minister -- top stories next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Top stories now.

And I want to begin with a tragedy in Hawaii. One Marine is dead after a military helicopter crashed into Kaneohe Bay. Three others on board are hospitalized with injuries. We're told the pilot shouted mayday just after takeoff. One witness says the crash sounded like a thunder boom. The Marine Corps is investigating.

And federal investigators are considering possible manslaughter charges against BP executives. The charges would be for decisions made by those BP managers before that explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig -- 11 workers were killed. Millions and millions of gallons of oil spilled there into the Gulf of Mexico. BP admitted late yesterday it has also lost a laptop computer with the private information of some 13,000 people who filed oil-related claims after last year's spill. And it could be a bit of a new role for George Clooney. The actor and his girlfriend are on a list of witnesses who could be called to testify in the trial of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Also, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is on that list. Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and then trying to cover it up. Berlusconi and the young woman deny that allegation. The trial is set to begin one week from today.

And the president of TEPCO is hospitalized. The company says he is suffering fatigue and stress. TEPCO is the utility company that owns the crippled nuclear power plant in Japan. TEPCO's president has not made a public appearance in more than two weeks.

The CEO, however, was out in public today vowing to improve conditions for workers at that plant. Did you know they haven't exactly had much food, they have been sleeping on the floor, and some of them still don't know where their loved ones are? We will have a lot more on that coming up.

Also, a killer whale is back. You know the story. This is the whale that killed his trainer, a very experienced trainer, about 13 months ago at SeaWorld. But get this. SeaWorld says he's returned today because he needs mental and social enrichment, their words. I will ask a wildlife expert what he thinks about that. Good idea or not so much? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I know they say everyone deserves a second chance, but what about a performing whale linked to the deaths of not one, not two, but three people?

This morning at SeaWorld in Orlando, Tilikum, the killer whale, returned to showbiz. This is the first time Tilikum performed in front of the public since killing its trainer 13 months ago. SeaWorld says performing is an important part of Tilikum's life.

But here's the thing. Besides grabbing his trainer by her ponytail and drowning her in front of speculators last year, Tilikum has been involved in two other deadly accidents, including a trainer at a park in Canada back in 1991 in Canada and then eight years later a homeless man who had somehow wandered into his Orlando tank area late at night.

So I want to bring in Grey Stafford. He is with the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in Phoenix but also began his whole career as a marine mammal trainer at a place once called SeaWorld of Ohio.

Grey, I know you know killer whales, you have trained them yourself. What do you think right out of the gate, good idea, smart move or not?

GREY STAFFORD, WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO AND AQUARIUM: I think it's absolutely the right move to make. I think the folks at SeaWorld were wise to take their time and look at the process, look at their staff, look at the situation and come up with a plan that gets Tilikum back into a familiar show training environment, because it gives the trainers an opportunity to enrich his life, to provide him more choices in his day, and more enrichment. So it's definitely a good option.

BALDWIN: You're using a word SeaWorld uses. Here's the statement we got. "Participating in shows is just a portion of Tilikum's day, but we feel it is an important component of his physical, social and mental enrichment. He has been regularly interacting with his trainers and other whales for purposes of training exercise and social and mental stimulation and has enjoyed access to all of the pools at the Shamu Stadium complex."

Help me understand because this is obviously not my area of expertise. When we talk about a "whale's enrichment," what does that mean? Needs to perform, needs human interaction?

STAFFORD: All of the above. I mean, this is an animal that's been in human care for all of its life. For most of its life it's been in a training situation and show situation. So, yes, I'm not surprised that they've done all sorts of husbandry sort of training off-exhibit at different times. But there's nothing that compares quite to the show situation. You have an audience of thousands of people clearing and music and lights in some cases. It is a very different experience for an animal used to this, being rewarded for it.

BALDWIN: Let me play the other side. I know you say it needs a show situation. A, that's not a killer whale's natural habitat. B, this particular whale has killed three people. Why not, not necessarily euthanize this animal, take it away, put it in a private facility, maybe some human interaction, but why back at SeaWorld?

STAFFORD: Well, there's no finer marine mammal facility than the one in central Florida. I'm not sure send being him to another facility is in the best well fare for Tilikum. As far as why not euthanize an animal, this is a very different situation than a feral dog that bites somebody wandering through the neighborhood. He never left his display and was never a risk to the general public.

I think they made the right decision here. They're focused on success, trying to get him back into a normal situation for Tilikum. And in doing so, they're showing their dedication and care to an animal that deserves nothing less.

BALDWIN: But all those people, 13 months ago, watched in horror, and we talked to some of them, this woman die right before their eyes. Why bring this whale back, why present the possibility -- because it's an animal, you don't know entirely its behavior, it's unpredictable -- why open yourself up for that chance again?

STAFFORD: Well, first of all, some of the people working with this animal are some of the best trainers, some of the best killer whale people on the planet. I'm sure they've taken this time to put together a good plan to approximate him back into a show schedule.

And over time they will reward him for success and make adjustments if they need to in terms of what they ask him to do, how many behaviors, how long he's participating in the show. The emphasis needs to be on his success and rewarding him for success. You're showing video of trainers in the waters with killer whales. I want to make it clear, Tilikum was never a killer whale trained for water work, if you will. Trainers have never been part of his environment.

BALDWIN: That's a good point to make. Now we know SeaWorld is taking some extra precautions, putting up some additional I think fencing in between I guess where the whale would be and where the trainers would be interacting. They're also adding some fast-rising platform under water in case that happens again, in case a trainer gets trapped. Bottom line, let's bottom-line this, could this animal kill again?

STAFFORD: Well, you know, behavior is very probabilistic in nature. We do our best as caregivers to minimize the risks, but obviously animals have choices. But I would put this in context. Somewhere between 20 and 30 people are killed by their own dogs each and every year. Now, it doesn't minimize what happened to Dawn last year. It's a very tragic situation. But we have people who are killed in car wrecks going to work every single day.

So we have to kind of keep the risk in perspective to everyday risks we all face just going about our business. The value that these animals bring to public education and conservation and basic understanding of marine life vastly outweighs the risk especially when you have an organization like SeaWorld dedicated to making things better.

BALDWIN: For instance, though, if a pit bull or any dog attacks, they are euthanized. But as you say these are some of the best trainers in the world and they're aware of what could happen. Obviously people at SeaWorld know what could happen as well, right, Grey?

STAFFORD: That's absolutely true. Anyone who works around animals, they don't have to be wild animals, people who work with horses, in zoos in the field with wild animals, we all accept there are risks involved with that, just like airplane pilots accept the risk, truck drivers and so forth. You can't eliminate all the risk, but you can do things in a sensible way.

And the great thing is, the trainers at SeaWorld train with positive reinforcement so there's that relationship between animal and caregiver based on trust, not force and coercion, based on trust. That goes a long way to mitigating some of the risk. That's for sure.

BALDWIN: Here's hoping that never, ever, ever happens again. It was horrifying for all of us watching 13 months ago.

STAFFORD: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Grey Stafford, thank you so much.

Have you seen this? That is the car of the president of Syria being swarmed right after he spoke today. We're going to tell you what he said, or perhaps more importantly what he didn't say that has so many Syrians outraged.

And then they're the ones working constantly to prevent some sort of nuclear catastrophe in Japan. Now we're learning they're sleeping on the floor in conference rooms, in stairwells, and barely have enough food to eat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I'm going to show you a stunning moment in Syria, the president's first speech since pro-democracy protests started sweeping his country. Watch this for me.

(VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: It's kind of hard to see. That's why we put the spotlight on it. But in the midst of the masses, that is the president's car to the middle right of your screen. It is creeping through this crowd of supporters outside of parliament. Now, watch up close as one moment along this car's route, President Assad's car, surrounded by security, look at what happens. A woman runs up. See her pounding on the driver's side of the car, waving her hands? She gets pretty close. It looked to me like she was touching the window before she is restrained, pulled back.

Now, we don't know what the woman intended here. But by that point in time, President Assad had just finished speaking to Syria's national assembly, and he dashed any hopes for anyone who wanted to hear he would be ending the state of emergency in the country which has been in enforcement since 1963. He blames outside plots for unrest in his country and says they are testing Syria's unity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT, (via translator): We are now a target of a conspiracy, a worldwide conspiracy, and this depends on what is happening in the Arab world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Mohammed Jamjoom once again live in Abu Dhabi. Mohammed, I guess that dashed any hopes we'd hear the end of this emergency rule. What about concessions? Did the president offer any concessions in his speech today?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, the president spoke about reforms and said he had implemented reforms in the past, but he really didn't offer the concessions here that people were expecting.

Last night we were speaking to opposition figures who said that contacts had been made with the government, that they were expecting a lot from the president's speech today, that maybe negotiations were possibly going on. We couldn't get this confirmed from the government.

But the people we spoke with today after the speech were profoundly disappointed by the speech. They said he did not specify if that emergency law would be lifted, when it would be lifted. He did not specify what the reforms were. And a lot of the protestors out there, especially in the southern city of Daraa, felt that he was being threatening to them in an indirect way.

It really went over in a negative way for people in the cities protesting, hoping to hear more from the president, more concessions and a more conciliatory tone.

BALDWIN: We saw the crowds, those are pro-Assad demonstrators in Damascus. How is the speech being received in the other parts of the country where people aren't as supportive?

JAMJOOM: Well, judging by what we've heard from activists and eyewitnesses in several towns in the country, there have been protests today. Eyewitnesses tell us there was a protest in which there were confrontations between security forces and antigovernment forces, at least one person killed according to eyewitnesses in those clashes.

We've heard of other antigovernment protests in several other towns northwest of the city of Daraa, which is where the protest movement took root. Just judging by that, it seems like other parts of the country really weren't happy with what the president said.

What's interesting is, when we spoke to antigovernment demonstrators who were out in the streets today, we heard chants of basically people calling for the fall of the regime. This is very similar to chants we've heard in other parts of the Middle East when these protest movements have taken root.

So what started as a local thing, asking for local reforms in one part of the country seems to be growing into a more antigovernment movement.

BALDWIN: It sounds like it's spreading. The headline yesterday is that his cabinet up and resigned. You said the mention of reforms acknowledging the Syrian people have been demanding. I think you said yesterday specifically meaningful reforms haven't been met. Does the president have any room left to maneuver here, Mohammed?

JAMJOOM: Well, Brooke, if I could just draw a quick parallel between a country like Syria and a country like Yemen, both with protest movements going on right now. In a country like Yemen, the president there is quite embattled and he's come under pressure from a lot of former supporters, including members of his party to resign. People have basically defected from him en masses in the past couple of weeks.

That has not happened in Syria. Even though the movement seems to have taken root in that country, quite extraordinary for a country with an authoritarian regime like Syria, the fact is, Assad has the support of the government there. Even though the cabinet resigned, that was seen to give Assad more popularity with the people, not to bring him down.

So he still does have room to maneuver, but if more people come out in the streets day after day, it will be a question then how much longer can he survive? Will he be able to skillfully manage this?

BALDWIN: Mohammed Jamjoom, thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

I want to take you to Japan now. Government orders safety upgrades at all nuclear plants, and the utility that owns that damaged power plant promising better conditions for the workers trying to prevent -- and working around the clock -- preventing hopefully the meltdown there. Many of them are also facing their own personal tragedies. CNN's Paula Hancocks tells their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the eyes of the world, they are heroes, risking their lives a few hundred work days and nights to bring Fukushima's nuclear power plant back from the brink of disaster. An official from Japan's nuclear watchdog has spent five days at the plant and tells CNN conditions are harsh. Food and water are rationed, crackers for breakfast, a ready-made meal for dinner.

He says a few hundred people sleep in a building about 500 meters away from the reactors. Many sleep on the floor in the conference room. Those who can't fit sleep in the corridor or in stairwells. He says workers put down lead mats on the carpet to shield them from radiation. It's not 100 percent protection, but it's somewhat effective.

Workers are still struggling to secure power for the plant to bring the cooling systems back online after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. A nuclear safety official says the rooms are cold and there's no water for showers. They use wet wipes to clean themselves. They can take a bus provided by plant owners TEPCO on their day off and go 20 kilometers away to have a shower and a rest at another facility.

The mental strain is unimaginable as workers also deal with their own personal tragedies. One e-mail leaked to the media was sent from a worker at the plant to a worker in Tokyo, a TEPCO spokesperson has verified their authenticity. The plant worker writes, "My parents were washed away by the tsunami and I still don't know where they are." In another e-mail, "Crying is useless. If we're in hell now, all we can do is crawl up towards heaven."

The Tokyo worker e-mails back, everyone here pays respect to and prays for those who are facing the brunt of this and fighting on the front lines surrounded by enemies. The Fukushima worker says they are all working to their limit, both mentally and physically. Three workers spent time in the hospital last week after standing in contaminated water. They have since been release.

TEPCO and the government say they are trying to improve conditions for the Fukushima employees.

YUKIO EDANO, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY (via translator): The workers are working under very dangerous and very hard conditions, and I feel a great deal of respect to them and very apologetic. HANCOCK: Plans are being drawn up to improve the supply chain to those at the Fukushima nuclear plant as they work tirelessly to avert a nuclear disaster, putting their own personal pain to one side.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The product, having been discontinued promptly, the hospital's not using the product, there's no longer and wasn't from the notification any risk to anyone else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: But nine people are already dead in six different hospitals. The product he kept referring to, IV fluid. Elizabeth Cohen joins me next to explain this story. Stay here.

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BALDWIN: You've been at the hospital, had an IV, I want you to listen to this. This could be kind of frightening. Nine patients are dead and ten others infected with this bacteria that got into their blood at several hospitals in Alabama. Health officials think the infections may have come from those IV bags where the bacteria has been found. The bags have now been recalled.

Elizabeth Cohen here with more. First, just what happened?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, they really are quite sure that it came from the IV bags, because the iv bags had the bacteria that they are looking for.

BALDWIN: What was inside the IV bags?

COHEN: Basically liquid food because these patients need to be fed through an IV, and they found the bacteria inside these people. Not a coincidence. Nine patients, you know, 19 patients scattered around different hospitals, so they are pretty sure there's that link with those bags.

Now, how did it get contaminated? That's the million dollar question.

BALDWIN: They don't know yet.

COHEN: This bacteria is found in like your bathroom in the grout, found in bathtubs and all sorts of places. Is it possible that a worker went to the bathroom and didn't wash their hands and came back and manufactured these. It's possible. Is it possible that it was on the equipment. The bacteria was on the equipment and got into the liquid. It's possible.

BALDWIN: Now, we mentioned, what is it, nine patients dead, ten, in fact, you have an update.

COHEN: Ten who became sick from it. Some we're told by public health officials are getting better. That's wonderful news. But others are fighting for their lives.

BALDWIN: A lot of people -- I've had an IV, knee surgery from a skiing accident ten years ago. A lot of people have had IVs. Should we if to the hospital and worry?

COHEN: Most of us who get IVs like I'm sure you did, you're getting a drug through your IV and this bacteria isn't going to grow in a drug. This bacteria grows in food, the liquid food that some people have to get via IV if they can't eat so this bacteria is not a worry for most people and what happened in Alabama hardly ever happens. Now, there's other hospital-acquired infections you have to worry about, a different discussion for a different day. But this bacteria is extremely rare.

BALDWIN: If you're in one of the six hospitals in Alabama?

COHEN: You do not have to worry. They found the bags, found the bags that are contaminating and gotten them off the shelves. I mean, they are done.

BALDWIN: They are done. Frightening though.

COHEN: It is frightening.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much.

Take a look at this. The man here is being shot at, unbelievable, because he gets away without serious injuries. We have the whole story, that video next.

Also, she is back from London now. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just got out of a closed-door meeting about Libya. Dana Bash is there, talked to the lawmakers who were there inside that closed- door meeting and will join me next with some details. Stay here.

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BALDWIN: You can say luck is on the side of a Tampa, Florida, convenience store clerk. Watch this video with me and you'll see why. First you see the two guys, both with guns, going into the store. Look what happens when the clerk runs to the parking lot. They are shooting at him as he runs out of there.

Hard to believe from watching this, police say the clerk was not seriously hurt. He has a nick on his neck, a nick on his lip. So we looked into this. After seeing this video, had a couple of questions. We found out that those were BB guns. The clerk says he is now more cautious. He hands customers their purchases now through the metal bars.

So there has been this closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill. You have Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense secretary Robert Gates, a couple prominent lawmakers. The topic, Libya. Dana Bash is there with the Political Ticker. Dana, I understand you are right outside that closed-door meeting. What are you hearing?

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke. Well, it just broke up, and I and the Congressional producers have had a chance to talk to a number of lawmakers in this meeting. Again, this was a classified briefing for every member of the House of Representatives. There will be one later for the Senate.

The bottom line is that multiple lawmakers have told us that they didn't really hear a lot new in this classified briefing that they knew before. What we are told, maybe the big question of the day is whether or not the coalition will go forward and arm rebels in Libya. We're told by multiple lawmakers that the administration -- there's no decision yet on that at all. They were very clear that, in the words of one lawmaker, keep that at arm's length.

That might be good news for many of the lawmakers who are in this briefing because we are told that there is a lot, a lot of opposition to the concept of arming rebels. Listen to what one lawmaker, Geoff Davis, of Kentucky just told me coming out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. GEOFF DAVIS, (R) KENTUCKY: I strongly oppose arming the rebels because in that complex tribal patchwork that makes up this insurgency, it's very uncoordinated. There are significant amount of air defense systems that are portable, that are on the ground that we know from public discourse. We now know that there are Islamic radicals who are coming in to join with this as well as Islamic radicals of Eastern Libya, a hotbed of recruitment of jihadists to head to Afghanistan and to Iraq who may in fact get access to very dangerous weapons that could be used elsewhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: So I'm told that some of that actually went on behind closed doors, members of Congress saying we can't do this because we don't know exactly who we will be arming and some pretty dangerous people will be armed if the coalition goes ahead and does that.

Another very hot topic we're told that went on inside this briefing, Brooke, is the idea of Congressional approval. Many people on both sides of the aisle, liberals and conservatives, made very clear to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary Gates and others that they do believe that the administration should have come to Congress for Congressional approval.

And we are told, again, multiple lawmakers tell us this, that Hillary Clinton made clear they feel that they are very firm legal ground without having congressional approval now and even going forward in the future. She said in the words of one person I talked, to basically we don't need you going forward. We feel that we are just fine if we continue this.

One other interesting note, one member of Congress told me on the cost, and there's been a lot of question how much is this going to cost the American taxpayer, Brooke. Already Secretary Gates actually gave specifics in there. Already the U.S. has spent $600 million. That for the initial phase of the no-fly zone, but he says he believes it will be $40 million a week, $40 million a week to maintain the no- fly zone. That seems like a new figure, interesting figure that we're getting from the Pentagon, again, via a member of Congress who was told by secretary gates in this meeting. Brooke.

BALDWIN: I think that's the first time any of us have heard any hard and fast figure put on the operation there in Libya.

Dana Bash right outside the closed-door meeting. Dana with the scoop, as always.

Dana, thank you. And we'll get another Political Ticker update for you in about half-an-hour.